Debrand sets a new transparency benchmark for textile next-life logistics

Debrand, a leader in textile reverse logistics, released its inaugural 2025 Transparency Report, setting a new industry benchmark for transparency across the full spectrum of textile diversion. Moving beyond high-level metrics, the report provides an unprecedented look into where materials actually go, across reuse, recycling, upcycling, and responsible disposal, and the operational realities shaping those outcomes. At a time when much of the industry reports aggregate diversion or estimated environmental
impact, Debrand is taking a different approach: sharing detailed, pathway-level data alongside the limitations, trade-offs, and infrastructure gaps that define textile circularity today.

“In an industry as oversimplified and misunderstood as fashion, we believe real progress starts
with clarity,” said Amelia Eleiter, CEO and Co-Founder of Debrand. “If we can’t see what’s
happening behind the scenes, and be honest about what’s working and what isn’t, we can’t
meaningfully move forward. This report is our commitment to opening that black box.”
In FY2025, Debrand processed more than 2.4 million pounds of apparel, accessories, and
packaging and warehouse by-product diverting materials across a range of next-life
pathways aligned with the Waste Hierarchy.

● Reuse: 347,440 pounds (13.66%) were directed to resale and donation, extending
product life at the highest possible value

● Recycling: More than 1.7 million pounds (69.54%) were allocated to recycling channels,
with the majority going to fiber reclamation

○ Advanced Recycling: While still nascent, 27,107 pounds (1.06%) were directed
to textile-to-textile recycling pilots highlighting both progress and current
scalability limitations

● Remanufacturing (Upcycling) & Specialized Streams: 25,269 pounds (0.99%) were
diverted through upcycling initiatives, demonstrating the role of innovation and creative
partnerships in extending material life

● Responsible Disposal: Approximately 415,000 pounds (16.32%) were directed to
waste-to-energy and alternative fuel pathways, reflecting current infrastructure
constraints

Rather than presenting these figures in isolation, the report contextualizes what they reveal,
which is that while circularity is advancing, most materials are still constrained by design
limitations, inconsistent infrastructure, and immature end markets.

A core aim of the report is to challenge how transparency is defined in the textile industry. While
many organizations share total diversion rates, Debrand breaks down outcomes by end
channel, offering a clearer view of how materials move and where gaps remain.

This level of detail underscores the critical reality that recycling alone is not a silver bullet.
High-value reuse pathways remain underutilized, advanced recycling is still scaling, and certain
product categories lack viable solutions altogether. By pairing data with operational insight,
Debrand positions transparency not as a marketing exercise, but as a tool for industry-wide
learning and progress.

The report also highlights the essential role of ecosystem partnerships in enabling circular
outcomes. Debrand works with a network of brand and innovation partners, including lululemon
and Samsara Eco, to pilot new solutions, scale recovery pathways, and generate data that
informs future system design. These collaborations span resale programs, textile-to-textile
recycling trials, takeback pilots, and material innovation initiatives, demonstrating that no single
player can advance circularity alone. With this inaugural report, Debrand is calling on industry
peers to adopt a more transparent, pre-competitive approach to data sharing.

“The intent of this report is not perfection, it’s progress,” Eleiter added. “We hope it serves as a
starting point for more open dialogue across the industry. The more visibility we create together,
the faster we can identify solutions and scale what works.”

Debrand plans to evolve the report annually, with a long-term goal of increasing traceability,
refining data accuracy, and expanding visibility across next-life pathways as infrastructure and
technology continue to advance.